Souring composition and method



la souring operations.

Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

ROBERT PHAIR, OF ALLENDALE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO H. KOHNSTAMM & (10., 1110., .A CORYORATION OF NEW YORK.

SOUBING COMPOSITION AND METHOD.

Ho Drawing. Original application filed July 18, 1921, Serial no. 485,642. Divided and this application filed J'une 15, 1922. Serial No. 568,650.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I ROBERT A. PHAIR, a citizen of the United states, residing in A1- lendale, New Jersey, have invented certain is new and usefuhlmprovements in Souring Compositions and Methods, of which the following is aspecification.

In my application No. 485,642, filed July 18, 1921, l have described certain improveto merits in the materials and steps used in laundry work and in the analogous treatment of textile materials. The present application is a division thereof, directed particularly to the materials and steps used in After the usual laundering operations it is customary to bleach the goods and then to rinse them so as to remove the bleaching material. But there is generally a residue of the bleaching material and certain products of the bleac ing operation, which cannot be removed by rinsing, and the goods should be treated to a subsequent souring operation. My invention contemplates an improvement on such souring operations by adding to the usual laundry sour or to any suitable laundry sour a chlorine-neutralizing agent.

The laundry sour which ll propose using comprises a compound of fluorine havin an l acid reaction in combination with a re ucing agent or other material adapted to neutralize the destructive efiect lOf chlorine, hypochlorous acid and other products or the acid decomposition of by ochlorites I from the bleach which was used in a'previous stage. One example of such an improved sour is a mixture of sodium acid fluoride and sodium sulfite; another is sodium silicofluoride and sodium bisulfite.

The advantages which this sour possesses over others previousl used are several. Even if it is not thoroug ly rinsed out in the next operation, it is'not destructive of the oods. The decomposition products of the ypochlorites used in the bleaching operation have an intense destructive action, and such (products are entirely removed or neutralize by .this sour. Any of the bleach in more or less loose combination with-stains in the fabric, and which would ordinaril cause holes therein in time, is neutralize Thus the color of print goods for example,

' and also the fabric are saved from such de-,

structive efi'ects. Also any alkali which is present either free or in combination with the oxycelluloses is neutralized and the goods are thereby whitened. Certain stains are removed by reduction and decolorizing of them. Any insoluble lime magnesia soaps which may remain on or in the goods are so modified as to be rendered soluble in alkaline solution. By this souring opera tion the goods are put in the best shape for the bluing operation which follows and which is succeeded by the final rinsing in clear water.

In the treatment of textile materials, and particularly vegetable fibers, to remove the fats, waxes and other dirt prior to bleaching, mercerizing or dyeing, a sour of the same character is found very advantageous; that is, a sour composed of an acid compound of fluorine with a reducing agent as' above described. The acid compound of fluorine combines with any alkali present, to remove stains andwhiten the material and also to remove any lime salts caused by the water or by the materials used. Sul: phuric and hydrochloric acids have been largely used for this purpose, but any-traces thereof left in the goods will rot the latter, whereas the acid compounds of fluorine will not do so. Also a very much smaller quantity of the latter may be used because of the comparative sluggishness of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids; in fact about onefifteenth as much of the acid compound of fluorine will do the same amount of work. This use of an acid com ound of fluorine in the treatment of texti e materials after a boiling out of the unbleached vegetable fi-' hers is believed to be new combination with the reducing agent.

Though I have described with cat par-- ticularity of detail certain embo iments of my invention, yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular steps and materials described. Various modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. In launderin or treating textile materials the metho which consists in subjecting the goods after the bleaching, to

either alone or in treatment with a composition which sours and neutralizes the destructive efi'ect of the bleach.

2. In the laundering or treating of textile materials the method which consists in subjecting the goods to a sour after bleaching, said sour containing an acid compound of fluorine and an agent adapted to neutralize the destructive eifect of the bleach.

3.. In the laundering or treating of textile materials the method which consists in sub'ecting the goods to a sour containing an aci compound of fluorine with a: reducing agent.

4. In the treating of textile materials to remove fats, Waxes or other dirt, the method which includes boiling out the fibers and then subjecting the material to a sour containing an acid compound of fluorine.

5. A souring composition for treating textile materials comprising an acid compound of fluorine and a neutralizing agent opposed to the destructive action of bleaches.

6. A souring composition for treating textile materials after bleaching comprising an acid compound of fluorine and a reducing agent. I

7. A souring composition for treating textile materials including a chlorine-neutralizing agent.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ROBERT A. PHAIR. 

